Hemostasis valve

Abstract

A hemostasis valve to maintain hemostasis during the insertion, removal or reposition of a medical instrument in the vascular system of a patient. The hemostasis valve includes a valve body having lumen extending therethrough, a first valve positioned across the lumen, and having a passage with a diameter that is continuously variable, a second valve positioned across the lumen, and having a passage with a diameter that is continuously variable. The first and second valves being spaced apart longitudinally along the lumen. A connector rotatably attached to the valve body for connecting the hemostasis valve to another instrument. The first and second valves are selectively operable to create an opening through the passage respectively of a diameter to permit admittance of at least one intravascular instrument through at least one of the first and second valves while maintaining hemostasis. The second valve is rotatably attached to the valve body without effecting the diameter of the passage therethrough.

1 . A hemostasis valve for preventing blood loss while permitting the introduction of intravascular instruments, the hemostasis valve comprising:
 a valve body having a lumen extending therethrough;   a first valve positioned across said lumen that is operable to selectively permit fluid flow through said lumen in an open position or preclude fluid flow through said lumen in a closed position;   a second valve positioned across said lumen that is operable to selectively permit fluid flow through said lumen in an open position or preclude fluid flow through said lumen in a closed position;   a connector rotatably connected to said valve body for connecting the hemostasis valve to another instrument;   wherein said first and said second valves are longitudinally spaced along said lumen; and   wherein said first and said second valves are selectively operable to create an opening of a diameter to permit admittance of intravascular instruments through at least one of said first and second valves while maintaining hemostasis by a sliding seal.   
   
   
       2 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 1 , wherein said second valve is rotatably connected at one end thereof to said valve body for rotation about said valve body without effecting the opening or closing of said second valve. 
   
   
       3 . A hemostasis valve for preventing blood loss while permitting the introduction of intravascular instruments, the hemostasis valve comprising:
 a valve body having a proximal end, a distal end, and lumen extending through said valve body, said lumen capable of receiving for passage therethrough at least one intravascular instrument;   a first valve positioned across said lumen, and having a passage with a diameter that is continuously variable, said first valve is operable for the controllable opening and closing of said passage thereof to selectively permit fluid flow through said lumen in an open position or preclude fluid flow through said lumen in a closed position;   a second valve positioned across said lumen, and having a passage with a diameter that is continuously variable, said second valve is operable for the controllable opening and closing of said passage thereof to selectively permit fluid flow through said lumen in an open position or preclude fluid flow through said lumen in a closed position;   said first and said second valves being spaced apart longitudinally along said lumen;   a connector rotatably attached to said distal end of said valve body for connecting the hemostasis valve to another instrument;   wherein said first and said second valves are selectively operable to create an opening through said passage respectively of a diameter to permit admittance of at least one intravascular instrument through at least one of said first and second valves while maintaining hemostasis.   
   
   
       4 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 3 , wherein said valve body further comprises an intermediate barrel portion between said second valve and said distal end. 
   
   
       5 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 3 , wherein said second valve is rotatably connected at one end thereof to said valve body for rotation about said valve body without effecting the diameter of said passage of said second valve. 
   
   
       6 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 3 , wherein each of said valves are of the Touhy-Borst type. 
   
   
       7 . A hemostasis valve comprising:
 a valve body having a proximal end, a distal end, and lumen extending through said valve body, said lumen capable of receiving for passage therethrough at least one intravascular instrument;   a valve positioned across said lumen intermediate of said proximal and distal ends, and having a passage with a diameter that is continuously variable, said first valve is operable for the controllable opening and closing of said passage thereof to selectively permit fluid flow through said lumen in an open position or preclude fluid flow through said lumen in a closed position;   a first connector at said proximal end for connecting another instrument to said proximal end of said valve body; and   a second connector at said distal end rotatably connected to said valve body, and for connecting another instrument to said distal end of said valve body.   
   
   
       8 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 7 , wherein said first connector is a luer lock female connector; and wherein said second connector is a rotatable luer lock male connector. 
   
   
       9 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 7 , wherein said valve body farther includes an intermediate barrel portion between said valve and said second connector. 
   
   
       10 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 7 , wherein said valve comprises:
 a compressible seal that defines said passage, said passage being normally open; and   a rotatable locking nut joined to said valve body and forming a valve assembly therewith which together encloses the compressible seal within said valve assembly, said rotatable locking nut being rotatable about said valve body to selectively exert and remove compressive force applied to said compressible seal so as to selectively close and open said passage thereof about the circumference of an intravascular instrument in response to the exertion and removal of said force respectively.   
   
   
       11 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 10 , wherein said first connector is connected to said rotatable locking nut. 
   
   
       12 . The hemostasis valve of  claim 11 , wherein said first connector is a luer lock female connector; and wherein said second connector is a rotatable luer lock male connector. 
   
   
       13 . A hemostasis valve for preventing blood loss while permitting the introduction of intravascular instruments, the hemostasis valve comprising:
 a valve body having a proximal end, a distal end, an intermediate barrel portion, and lumen extending through said valve body, said lumen capable of receiving for passage therethrough at least one intravascular instrument;   a first compressible seal having a normally open passage therethrough positioned within said valve body across said lumen, and which is selectively closeable when deformed by exerting a compressive force on the compressible seal;   a first rotatable locking nut joined to said valve body and forming a first valve assembly therewith which together encloses the first compressible seal within said first valve assembly, said first rotatable locking nut being rotatable about said valve body to selectively exert and remove compressive force applied to said compressible seal so as to selectively close and open said passage thereof about the circumference of an intravascular instrument in response to the exertion and removal of said force respectively;   a second compressible seal having a normally open passage therethrough positioned within said valve body across said lumen at a longitudinally spaced distance from said first compressible seal, and which is selectively closeable when deformed by exerting a compressive force on the compressible seal;   a second rotatable locking nut having a proximal end connected to said valve body, and a distal end connected to said intermediate barrel portion and forming a second valve assembly therewith which together encloses the second compressible seal within said second valve assembly;   said second rotatable locking nut being rotatable about said barrel portion to selectively exert and remove compressive force applied to said second compressible seal so as to selectively close and open said passage thereof about the circumference of an intravascular instrument in response to the exertion and removal of said force respectively;   said proximal end of said second rotatable locking nut being rotatably connected to said valve body for rotation about said valve body without effecting rotation of said second rotatable locking nut about said barrel portion;   a connector rotatably attached to said distal end of said valve body for connecting the hemostasis valve to another instrument; and   wherein each passage of said first and said second compressible seals are selectively and opened and closed to permit admittance of at least one intravascular instrument through at least one of said passage of said first and second compressible seals while maintaining hemostasis.